In this episode of Failing to Success, Chad Kaleky, host of Cosmic Design and Development, interviews Mark Koesterer, founder of The Players NIL, an education company that supports student athletes. Mark shares his pivotal moment in 2010 when he was asked to take a leadership role in a sports and entertainment company in California, but received a cease and desist letter from the NFL on his first day. The NFL told Mark to stop 60% of the things the company was doing, which caused a significant shift in Mark's life. After understanding why the question was being asked, Mark went on a journey of knowledge and experience that brought him to where he is today.

Mark's experience with the NFL led him to learn about licensing, group licensing, agents, agencies, sponsorship sales, brands, and athletes at a high level. He then leveraged his relationship with the NFL to become the only licensed partner for the NFL in Hollywood, producing TV shows, movies, commercials, photo shoots, and anything involving scripted sports and the NFL marks. Mark then took this relationship and leveraged it with the NBA, Major League Baseball, US soccer, and Major League Soccer, running up to 1300 sports content projects per year. He later sold this business and in 2021, founded The Players NIL.

From June to July 2021, the US federal courts allowed college athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL). Currently, 25 states allow high school athletes to do the same. The Players NIL supports student athletes in understanding their rights and offers education on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, personal branding, and much more.

Key Points:

Mark Koesterer shares his pivotal moment in 2010 when he was asked to take a leadership role in a sports and entertainment company in California, but received a cease and desist letter from the NFL on his first day.

Mark's experience with the NFL led him to learn about licensing, group licensing, agents, agencies, sponsorship sales, brands, and athletes at a high level, which later helped him become the only licensed partner for the NFL in Hollywood.

The Players NIL supports student athletes in understanding their rights and offers education on entrepreneurship, financial literacy, personal branding, and much more.

Currently, 25 states in the US allow high school athletes to profit from their name, image, and likeness (NIL).‍

Timestamps:

00:00:00 Intro

00:00:24 When the NFL Legal Team Calls You

00:03:14 Forming NIL

00:06:55 Advice to New Entrepreneurs

00:08:24 Contact Mark